Social media tributes said he was surrounded by whanau in hospital that night. Plans are being made to return the teen's body to Whangarei. It is understood he had previously attended Bay of Islands College in Kawakawa.
Police said a man, 30, has been arrested and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and will reappear in the Auckland District Court tomorrow.
The charges are expected to be upgraded, police said.
An autopsy was being conducted today and detectives were reviewing CCTV footage, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said.
Police want to speak to the occupants of a white Toyota Prius that was behind the vehicle the victim was in at the time of the assault. Image / Police
Police want to speak to the occupants of a white Toyota Prius that was behind the vehicle the victim was in at the time of the assault.
Police would like to speak to three men who were at the intersection at the time and may have witnessed the assault.
As part of the inquiry police want to speak to three men who were at the intersection at the time and may have witnessed the assault. Police believe the trio caught a bus to Takapuna a short time later.
Eli Francis Holtz was assaulted when the vehicle he was a passenger in stopped at the traffic lights on Wellesley St West and Queen St at 3.15am
